fleam

[ fleem ]

noun

1. Surgery. a kind of lancet, as for opening veins.
2. the beveled leading edge of a sawtooth.

fleam

/ fliːm /

noun

1. archaic.
   a lancet used for letting blood

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleam¹

1375–1425; late Middle English fleme, fleom < Middle French flieme ≪ Late Latin phlebotomus, < Greek phlebotómon; phlebo-, tome

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleam¹

C16: from Old French flieme , alteration of Late Latin phlebotomus lancet (literally: vein cutter); see phlebotomy

Example Sentences

“We have no benefit of lancet or fleam.”

From Literature

A piece of hard wood loaded at one end with lead, and used to strike the fleam into the vein.

From Project Gutenberg

The result of this fleam would be that the tooth, instead of cutting equal and level all the way across as in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg

If we give fleam to both faces we alter the indentation, as denoted in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg

Obviously the fleam makes the points weak, but this in coarse saws may be partially remedied by shaping the teeth as in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg